Nick Bilton, the executive producer of "60 Minutes," has reportedly issued a memo to staff urging them to cease leaking information from within the newsroom, a memo that itself was reportedly leaked. The development comes amid broader changes at CBS News under the leadership of Bari Weiss.
In the 734-word missive, Bilton addressed what he described as a constant stream of rumors, stating that "95 percent of them are fabrications and blatantly incorrect." He expressed a desire to shift focus from internal speculation to the program's journalistic output. "If you hear something and it matters to you, come ask me and I’ll tell you what I know," Bilton wrote, according to reports. "Otherwise I’d like this place to be talked about for what we put on television."
Bilton's memo was reportedly sent shortly before incoming correspondent Sir Trevor Phillips offered a candid assessment of Weiss, the CBS News leader who took over in October. Phillips described Weiss's tenure as a high-stakes endeavor, suggesting she is someone who will either achieve significant success or face a dramatic failure. "Bari and her team have a huge tanker of a network news organization to turn around, and they are assembling a little team on the bridge," Phillips told The Daily Telegraph. "The great thing about her is that she’s one of those people who will either change the world or crash and burn. But when they crash and burn, it’s in technicolor."
Phillips also cautioned against framing Weiss's leadership solely as an "anti-woke" initiative, a label often applied to her due to her public critiques of "woke" culture. He stated that Weiss's aim is for CBS News to be "heterodox," promoting a variety of voices. Phillips is slated to begin his role as senior global affairs correspondent for CBS News and an anchor on "60 Minutes" in New York this summer.
The past year has been described as tumultuous for the network, with some observers viewing Weiss's appointment by Paramount boss David Ellison as an effort to incorporate more conservative viewpoints. Reports also surfaced in early June detailing the departures of longtime "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley, following a reportedly contentious meeting with Bilton and Weiss.
Despite the internal challenges, Bilton expressed optimism regarding the upcoming 59th season of "60 Minutes," scheduled to premiere on September 13. He described the planned content as "extraordinary" and referred to the team as "the best in the business."